Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Ben Danziger earned the victory in today's game.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The University of Akron baseball team warded off a late comeback attempt from the University of Hartford to win its fifth-straight contest, 12-8 at Chain of Lakes Stadium this afternoon.

Akron improves to 8-6 overall while Hartford drops to 2-3 following the loss. UA starter Benjamin Danziger (2-2) lasted six and a third innings in today's outing and allowed one run through six complete frames until Hartford rallied for seven in the seventh, recording four strikeouts. Hartford starter Anthony Mannuccia (1-1) allowed six earned runs on seven hits in five innings pitched to take the loss.

From top to bottom the Akron lineup produced quality at-bats for the club, clubbing 17 hits this afternoon as each player finished with at least one hit and one RBI. Drew Turocy led the charge with a 4-for-6 day scoring twice and driving in a RBI; Sam Watkins finished with a team-high three RBIs-two of which came on his second double in as many days while Nick Solitario was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. 

For the fifth-straight game, Akron struck first, plating a run in the first inning as Turocy scored on a Brian Kordal sacrifice fly deep to center. The Hawks tied things up with a sacrifice fly of their own in the second but Akron jumped ahead in the fourth on yet another sac-fly courtesy of Solitario to take a 2-1 lead.

Akron used a four-run fifth and three-run seventh to extend its lead over the Hawks. In the fifth, Turocy singled to left before shifting to second on a passed ball to get the Zips going. Jake Plata drew a walk before Hallett singled sharply to left, scoring Turocy from second, bringing Kordal to the plate, as the senior battle from behind in the count to draw a walk. Akron earned yet another run care of the sacrifice fly as John Turk drove in Plata on a deep shot to center before Watkins' two-RBI double pushed the game 6-1 in favor of the Zips.

Akron added three more in the seventh when back-to-back hits from Hallett, Kordal and Turk loaded the bases with just one out. Watkins was hit on the next pitch, walking in a run before Solitario knocked his second sac-fly of the day to plate Kordal. Third baseman Samuel Trecaso came up big with a two-out single up the middle to plate another Akron run, giving the Zips a 9-1 advantage over the Hawks.

The Hawks managed to trim the deficit to just one run with a seven-run seventh inning, as Turocy entered in relief. Turocy held the Hawks scoreless in the eighth, allowing Akron to add some insurance runs atop the ninth. With one away, Kevin Haas and Turocy each recorded RBI-singles while Plata's RBI-groundout capped the UA scoring and accounted for today's final 12-8. Turocy worked 2.2 innings today, allowing three hits while striking out three Hawks.

The Zips will enjoy a break in play on Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday (March 17) against Eastern Illinois at Chain of Lakes Stadium. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.